John Boehner in Do Not Ask What Good We Do, by Robert Draper

On Government Reform:
Designating local earmarks is wrong way to do business

One thing differentiated Boehner from the backroom dealmakers on the Hill: he didn't like earmarks. He just thought designating taxpayer dollars for a particular congressman's local college or airport wasn't the right way to do business.
Even before Gingrich became Speaker and routinely sent over to the Appropriations Committee lists of federal projects to fund for Republicans in vulnerable districts, Boehner as a freshman took to the House floor to excoriate the
1991 Highway Bill, which bore the fingerprints of eventual Transportation Committee chairman Bud Shuster: " I stand opposed to this legislation because spreading pork around to secure enough votes to pass this turkey is wrong!"

In January 2006, Tom DeLay was collared with a federal indictment for illegally transferring campaign contributions to fellow Republicans and was forced by Speaker Hastert to vacate the post of majority leader. John Boehner lunged out of the wilderness.
"For a Majority that Matters," reads the title of his majority leader campaign document. "We seem adrift, uncomfortable with our ability to reach big goals," he wrote. "America needs more from us. My goal is to create a CONFIDENT majority. "
Deftly turning his aversion to earmarks to his advantage, Boehner reminded his colleagues that "I cut my teeth here as a reformer," suggesting that he was uniquely qualified to lead the party out of the brewing scandal involving GOP lobbyist and DeLay
friend Jack Abramoff.

Boehner prevailed on a secret ballot vote, 122-1098. He was now 2nd in command to Speaker Denny Hastert. After the Republicans were stomped in November 2006 and Hastert decided to retire, Boehner ascended to minority leader.

Source: Do Not Ask What Good We Do, by Robert Draper, p. 46-47
Apr 24, 2012